Perfume Genius shares list of 40 all

Jan 15, 2024

If you’ve been on Twitter (or “X”) recently, you may have seen the tweet (or “post”) from Nick Worrall prompting to people to make a list of their 20 all-time favorite tracks (one per artist), with the criteria that the list is “not the ‘best’ songs, the ones that bring instant joy the second you hear the first note, the ones that give other people the best insight into what stirs your soul.” As of this posting, it has over 12,000 quotes, over 700 replies, and other people chiming in outside of the original post. One of the thousands of people who participated is Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas, who shared a Spotify playlist of 20 songs and then a second Spotify playlist with 20 more.

His list includes songs by Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, This Mortal Coil, Des’ree, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Elliott Smith, Sinéad O’Connor, Nick Drake, Björk, Low, The Breeders, Roxy Music, Julee Cruise, Big Star, Enya, Nico, Dead Can Dance, Sade, Yo La Tengo, Lucinda Williams, Robert Wyatt, Townes Van Zandt, Cat Power, Phosphorescent, and more. He also replied to someone asking if Joanna Newsom would be there if she was on Spotify, saying, “She is more entire album for me than one song. But maybe ‘Easy.'” See his full list below.

Perfume Genius – 40 Favorite SongsThe Platters – Smoke Gets In Your EyesThis Mortal Coil – Song To The SirenFleetwood Mac – SaraFairuz – Kamat MariyamBob Dylan – Oh, SisterDes’ree – I’m Kissing YouNina Simone – ConsummationOtis Redding – These Arms of MineElliott Smith – AngelesSinéad O’Connor – TroyNick Drake – Way To BlueThe Innocence Mission – I Haven’t Seen This Day BeforeBjörk – Harm of WillLow – Laser BeamThe Breeders – Off YouBulgarian State Television Female Choir – Mir Stanke le (Harvest Song from Thrace)Roxy Music – 2HBJulee Cruise – Mysteries of LoveBig Star – Blue MoonLhasa De Sela – RisingEnya – Caribbean BlueNico – AfraidDead Can Dance – The Host of SeraphimSade – JezebelYo La Tengo – Tears Are In Your EyesLucinda Williams – Fruits of My LaborRobert Wyatt – ShipbuildingTindersticks – Willow (ft. Robert Pattison)Cass McCombs – County LineJohn Tavener – Song of the AngelMary Margaret O’Hara – To Cry AboutRandy Newman – Old ManRoberta Flack – The First Time I Ever Saw Your FaceTownes Van Zandt – Tower SongCat Power – Maybe NotANOHNI – If It Be Your Will (Leonard Cohen cover)Jimmy Scott – Nothing Compares 2 UPhosphorescent – WolvesJohann Sebastian Bach – Come, Sweet Death